Plumbago Auriculata cv. Monott

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct selection of Plumbago shrub which shall be referred to hereinafter as Plumbago auriculata cultivar Monott. Plumbago auriculata cultivar Monott differs distinctively from other Plumbago auriculata plants by its unique combination of its floriferous habit of rich blue flowers and larger and wider petals and a more dense compact growth habit.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

This invention relates to a new and distinct selection of Plumbagoauriculata, a member of the Plumbaginaceae or Leadwort Family. Plumbagoauriculata cultivar Monott was discovered in a group of my seedlings inthe summer of 1988 on my property in Duarte. These seedlings were openlypollenated.

My new plant has been asexually reproduced by cuttings by me on myDuarte property and by Monrovia Nursery Company. The distinct phenotypiccharacteristics of my new selection that sets this plant apart fromother Plumbago auriculata plants could be lost genetically throughsexual reproduction. Therefore, sexual reproduction is prohibited andpropagation is restricted to asexual reproduction by cuttings.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Plumbago auriculata cv. Monott is different and outstanding. The averageand typical seedling Plumbago auriculata which is readily available forlandscaping has a pale blue flower ranging in colors of Pastel Lilac437/3 to Bluebird Blue 042/2. My selection has a rich blue color of theflowers which are noticeably larger and which sets my plant apart fromother Plumbago auriculata plants.

My new selection is extremely floriferous for eight months of the yearin Southern California. The growth habit though up to 5 feet in heightand width does have a more dense habit and is slightly smaller than thetypical sprawling Plumbago seedlings.

`Monott` is characterized and distinguished by being more precocious andconcentrated in flowering habit, and as having a more compact growthhabit when compared with other members of the species. Thesecharacteristics are noticable in, for example, responses to pruning,where specimens of the claimed plant and comparison plants of thespecies were pruned in early August. By early October, the plants of thespecies had flushed in growth and produced only scant flower buds andflowers, with specimens being predominantly green in coloration.Meanwhile, specimens of `Monott` had also flushed growth, but to a muchlesser degree, and were covered with heavy bud and bloom, rendering anappearance of a distinct blue coloration when viewed from a distance. Inclose observation, it was noted that the internodes of the plants of thecomparison were substantially equal in length, but representative plantsof the species had produced about 18-22 cm of terminal growth from thepoints of pruning, while `Monott` had produced only about 10-15 cm ofterminal growth from the points of pruning. This comparison illustratesthe propensity of `Monott` to conspicuously grow less and flower more,and its greater ability to direct its energy into the production offlowers, earlier, rather than vegetative growth when compared to thespecies when grown under the same conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above photo exhibits the characteristic deeper blue flowers.

The photo below depicts the overall habit and flower color differencesof a seedling versus my new selection. My selection on the left exhibitsthe rich blue flowers and larger and wider petals.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Below is a detailed description of my new selection of Plumbagoauriculata cv. Monott, the color terminology is from the BritishHorticultural Color Charts.

Overall size and habit: Mounding shrub. After 5 years plant shouldachieve a height of about 5 feet and a spread of 5 feet.

This plant grows at a slower rate than comparison plants of the speciesdue to its higher level of bud and flower production. Internode lengthsof `Monott` are substantially equal to those of the species, but lessterminal growth is made with flower numbers being about four times thatof plants typical of the species. The heavier flowering of thisselection results in a plant which is comparatively more compact throughits growth, and, while flowering peaks early in the season, `Monott`continuously presents a higher level of bloom resulting in a moreattractive, colorful appointment where it is used for landscapepurposes, as compared to other members of the species.

Tolerance to drought: When established in the landscape Plumbagoauriculata is very tolerant of dry situations.

Flower: In Southern California flowers appear from April throughNovember.

The flower parts of the plant of this disclosure, `Monott` aresubstantially identical to those of the species per se, but arepresented in numbers which are in the order of four times as numerous asthose of typical specimens of the species when observed at any point ofthe growing season.

Arrangement.--In terminal, spikelike racemes.

Color.--Petals -- Gentian Blue 42/1. Petal midrib -- Hyacinth Blue 40.Note: Color may vary slightly due to weather conditions, lighter in hotdry, deeper in cool moist climates.

Size.--Length: 2.5-3.0 cm. Diameter: 2.5-2.8 cm.

Shape.--Corolla tube slender, lobes 5, spreading.

Leaf:

Arrangement: The coloration of new and mature foliage of `Monott` issubstantially identical to that of comparison plants of the species.When observed from a distance, the foliage of `Monott` is distinctlyless conspicuous in all seasons due to being masked to a higher degreeby its greater number of flowers. Alternate.

Size.--Length 5.8 cm to 4.0 cm, width 2.2 cm to 1.4 cm, leaves arisingfrom leaf axils are smaller.

Color.--Upper -- Spinach Green 0960/1. Lower -- Spinach green 0960/2.

Shape.--Spatulate.

Margins.--Entire, undulate.

Fruit: 5 parted capsule. Seeds produced by the plant of this disclosureare substantially identical to those produced by typical specimens ofthe species in terms of size and appearance, and are fertile.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Plumbago plant assubstantially shown and described herein, that is characterizedparticularly as a novelty by the unique combination of its floriferoushabit of rich blue flowers and larger and wider petals and a more densecompact growth habit.